Supreme Court Note.
Since when was "I have no recollection of being a member" an excuse? Especially for a lawyer? Isn't that what the guilty say?
This guy is brilliant.
I am sure you have heard of the Arabic Assassin, a wanna-be rapper with no record deal that worked as a baggage screener. Until he was found out and fired. What a great way to get publicity- his name is now nationwide and it won't even matter if his rhymes are as junior-league as M.I.A.'s, the people pissed at life, Dubya, and the rest will be on the lookout for his single.
AA- I bet you can find his album online.
Happy not to Smear Santorum
PA senator Rickie Santorum says he's leaning towards not running for the presidency in 2008. Fingers crossed.
New Yorker = Behind the Bitter Sea
New Yorker's article on Diplo. I was at that show, you lazy, month-lag-time suckass writer. God, I am so very cool. Anyone feeling hot today? Bask in my chill glow.
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Friday, July 22, 2005
Search Me Where It Smells Funny
Another hot ass day in New York City. But we have a new wrinkle—bag searches on the subways! Is the city/ police administration in DC instituting this change if not, why not? All I know is that I’m glad I have been keeping my concealed weapon at home… I wonder if the cops will report this weekend about how many brass knuckles, plastic + metal unregistered weapons, liquor bottles from teenagers, and porn they collect? And how many bitter privacy lovers and conveniently brown people (the police department claims there will be no profiling) they will arrest?
Is there better ways for their time to be spent? Here are some reactions.
p.s.: this story is covered in the ny times by some fine reporters, Sewell Chan and Jennifer 8 Lee.
Another hot ass day in New York City. But we have a new wrinkle—bag searches on the subways! Is the city/ police administration in DC instituting this change if not, why not? All I know is that I’m glad I have been keeping my concealed weapon at home… I wonder if the cops will report this weekend about how many brass knuckles, plastic + metal unregistered weapons, liquor bottles from teenagers, and porn they collect? And how many bitter privacy lovers and conveniently brown people (the police department claims there will be no profiling) they will arrest?
Is there better ways for their time to be spent? Here are some reactions.
p.s.: this story is covered in the ny times by some fine reporters, Sewell Chan and Jennifer 8 Lee.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
camp. 7.13.05
camp was awesome. rewarding. almost inspiring. this time, you could feel the african heroes theme. the kids liked it even though we made some hasty rain-date plans on friday; all the locations we were supposed to have at the college seemed to be taken over by the other camp groups. i understand we have to share the space... but i did think we had those assigned to us.
small potatoes. we had workshops on history and stress reduction and identity and storytelling/ african songs. and they all seemed to work- a fairly rapt audience, and good commentary. i think. i don't know because i was running around all weekend making sure the next thing on the schedule would happen like it should.
in fact, that was the strangest thing about the camp weekend. unlike putting on WILD back in the wu days, i never had a chance to stop and look out among the crowd and grab my nuts and say, "yeah, i did that." nonetheless, camp was tight.
i had the arroz rice-a-home and dirty jersey sammy and my sibling aqua dulce in the house to help things out.
the last day left a little to be desired, though. the kids' portion of the talent show climaxed with a half funny, half gripping retelling of the amistad story, where some slavejacked sierra leoneans took over the ship, landed on american shores, and found allies to help them legally fight for freedom. if you happen to be in connecticut you should check out the amistad exhibit in new haven and look for a fellow named donald who will tell you great tales. after the talent show the gift and thanks ceremony took forever. and ever. i missed my gift, chasing after little ones.
on the same subject, i was cleaning out the last of our stuff- later than we should have- and i knew i was late. i did not, however, expect the bus to pick up and leave my ass. i was running behind a yellow school bus, cussin' with all the creativity a weekend of interrupted sleep and harnessing adolescent energy will leave.
there were some people still on campus; i caught a ride with one and caught up to my bag, already put on the bus by someone else. though i might have lost my gift, which was a badass candle holder.
p.s. i forgot to mention about jury duty. my ass got tagged. today. hopefully, not much more; i am fixin' to see shakespeare in the park's production of "as you like it." i might even skip out on something thurs or fri to see it.
p.p.s. i can't seem to stop saying ass.
camp was awesome. rewarding. almost inspiring. this time, you could feel the african heroes theme. the kids liked it even though we made some hasty rain-date plans on friday; all the locations we were supposed to have at the college seemed to be taken over by the other camp groups. i understand we have to share the space... but i did think we had those assigned to us.
small potatoes. we had workshops on history and stress reduction and identity and storytelling/ african songs. and they all seemed to work- a fairly rapt audience, and good commentary. i think. i don't know because i was running around all weekend making sure the next thing on the schedule would happen like it should.
in fact, that was the strangest thing about the camp weekend. unlike putting on WILD back in the wu days, i never had a chance to stop and look out among the crowd and grab my nuts and say, "yeah, i did that." nonetheless, camp was tight.
i had the arroz rice-a-home and dirty jersey sammy and my sibling aqua dulce in the house to help things out.
the last day left a little to be desired, though. the kids' portion of the talent show climaxed with a half funny, half gripping retelling of the amistad story, where some slavejacked sierra leoneans took over the ship, landed on american shores, and found allies to help them legally fight for freedom. if you happen to be in connecticut you should check out the amistad exhibit in new haven and look for a fellow named donald who will tell you great tales. after the talent show the gift and thanks ceremony took forever. and ever. i missed my gift, chasing after little ones.
on the same subject, i was cleaning out the last of our stuff- later than we should have- and i knew i was late. i did not, however, expect the bus to pick up and leave my ass. i was running behind a yellow school bus, cussin' with all the creativity a weekend of interrupted sleep and harnessing adolescent energy will leave.
there were some people still on campus; i caught a ride with one and caught up to my bag, already put on the bus by someone else. though i might have lost my gift, which was a badass candle holder.
p.s. i forgot to mention about jury duty. my ass got tagged. today. hopefully, not much more; i am fixin' to see shakespeare in the park's production of "as you like it." i might even skip out on something thurs or fri to see it.
p.p.s. i can't seem to stop saying ass.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
East River Waterfront?
I didn't know the city was working on the East River Waterfront. Is this going to get in the way of Black Top Street Hockey? Though I think the proposal stops short of the East River Park where today's hip heroes bang, scrape, and sprain their way to street hockey glory.
I didn't know the city was working on the East River Waterfront. Is this going to get in the way of Black Top Street Hockey? Though I think the proposal stops short of the East River Park where today's hip heroes bang, scrape, and sprain their way to street hockey glory.
In My Time of Slacking 7.6.05
I have been working towards camp. And reading a lot. A trio of highlights:
She’s Just Not That Into You is interesting, but I really hope my female friends can figure out when a fella is jerking them around. I also realized that I have been “not that into” a number of women I’ve dated. Hm.
Read Fall River Dreams, in part because I am ingesting more basketball books and also in part because I wanted to see if the book made reference to a fella named Justin McDonald. I thought most of my friends had met him but that was not true; Eben met him a while back when he worked for my sales unit at the failed dot-com. Justin was a star for his high school team, playing in all-star games and winning a state championship in Massachussetts; he played at a Div II school and a little bit in Europe and when we met him, he was figuring out what to do with himself. When he got drunk, he would show us his “shake-and-bake” headfake. And in the book there he is, Juddy McDonald, a specter over the next year’s team, the upholder of basketball skill and virtue, the outsider who becomes a Fall River hero.
Also reading Jeff Chang’s Can’t Stop Won’t Stop, which is amazing. It’s a history of hip hop that goes back to the sound system DJ’s of Kingston, Jamaica, to the gang warfare and bankruptcy of NYC’s 70’s, to the graffiti art scene. It’s a reminder that while New York was a tad scary even when I was growing up, it had some fire and some tension. I think in 10 years, all the fire and the tension will be in the Poconos and White Plains and whichever Connecticut city is the most bankrupt. And we’ll have an Eckerd/ CVS/ Starbucks/ Applebee’s on every corner, indie movie theaters to remind us what it looked like living in a place where bad things could happen to you (and you adapted by being tough and careful), and our music will sell us more Western-like fantasies of gunplay and deals that barely exist.
I have been working towards camp. And reading a lot. A trio of highlights:
She’s Just Not That Into You is interesting, but I really hope my female friends can figure out when a fella is jerking them around. I also realized that I have been “not that into” a number of women I’ve dated. Hm.
Read Fall River Dreams, in part because I am ingesting more basketball books and also in part because I wanted to see if the book made reference to a fella named Justin McDonald. I thought most of my friends had met him but that was not true; Eben met him a while back when he worked for my sales unit at the failed dot-com. Justin was a star for his high school team, playing in all-star games and winning a state championship in Massachussetts; he played at a Div II school and a little bit in Europe and when we met him, he was figuring out what to do with himself. When he got drunk, he would show us his “shake-and-bake” headfake. And in the book there he is, Juddy McDonald, a specter over the next year’s team, the upholder of basketball skill and virtue, the outsider who becomes a Fall River hero.
Also reading Jeff Chang’s Can’t Stop Won’t Stop, which is amazing. It’s a history of hip hop that goes back to the sound system DJ’s of Kingston, Jamaica, to the gang warfare and bankruptcy of NYC’s 70’s, to the graffiti art scene. It’s a reminder that while New York was a tad scary even when I was growing up, it had some fire and some tension. I think in 10 years, all the fire and the tension will be in the Poconos and White Plains and whichever Connecticut city is the most bankrupt. And we’ll have an Eckerd/ CVS/ Starbucks/ Applebee’s on every corner, indie movie theaters to remind us what it looked like living in a place where bad things could happen to you (and you adapted by being tough and careful), and our music will sell us more Western-like fantasies of gunplay and deals that barely exist.
Explanations of Post-Autistic Economics 7.6.05
From True Cost Economics:
[Economist Bernard Guerrien addressed the] disconnect between mainstream neoclassical economics instruction and reality. Economics has an ideological function, he told them, to put forth the idea that the markets will resolve everything. In fact, he added, economic theory absolutely doesn’t show that.
But why “post-autistic?” Is Rain Man involved?
From Wikipedia:
The term autistic is used in an informal way, synonymous to "closed-minded" or "self-absorbed". It has been criticized for using the term in this way, which could offend people suffering from disorders in the autistic spectrum, for example Asperger syndrome.
The movement is best seen as a forum of different groups critical of the current mainstream: from behavioral and heterodox to feminist, green economics and econo-physics.
From True Cost Economics:
[Economist Bernard Guerrien addressed the] disconnect between mainstream neoclassical economics instruction and reality. Economics has an ideological function, he told them, to put forth the idea that the markets will resolve everything. In fact, he added, economic theory absolutely doesn’t show that.
But why “post-autistic?” Is Rain Man involved?
From Wikipedia:
The term autistic is used in an informal way, synonymous to "closed-minded" or "self-absorbed". It has been criticized for using the term in this way, which could offend people suffering from disorders in the autistic spectrum, for example Asperger syndrome.
The movement is best seen as a forum of different groups critical of the current mainstream: from behavioral and heterodox to feminist, green economics and econo-physics.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Water Advisory 6.30.05
From Crain's NY Business, a water advisory for NYC for the next 24 hours:
Water advisory issued for city
New York City’s health department issued a water advisory, citing potential problems with the city’s water processing following recent heavy rainstorms.
The health department recommended that boiled water be used for the next 24 hours by infants, the elderly, pregnant women and those residents with conditions that compromise their immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS.
The department said it found higher-than-normal levels of “particles” in the city’s drinking water that could “interfere with the water chlorination process.” The levels were observed at the Hillview reservoir, one of three reservoirs that provide drinking water for the city.
From Crain's NY Business, a water advisory for NYC for the next 24 hours:
Water advisory issued for city
New York City’s health department issued a water advisory, citing potential problems with the city’s water processing following recent heavy rainstorms.
The health department recommended that boiled water be used for the next 24 hours by infants, the elderly, pregnant women and those residents with conditions that compromise their immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS.
The department said it found higher-than-normal levels of “particles” in the city’s drinking water that could “interfere with the water chlorination process.” The levels were observed at the Hillview reservoir, one of three reservoirs that provide drinking water for the city.
Yuppster. 6.30.05
so my dear friend has this great website, yuppster.com. well, i think it's great. but she and i have discussed a little bit of how to get people looking at her site. it's mostly about cool things and accouterments one can pick up. you know, for the hipsters.
but how to get e-attention? serve up some ideas, people. what have you seen? what works? what gets your attention. and don't say tits. i already suggested that.
so my dear friend has this great website, yuppster.com. well, i think it's great. but she and i have discussed a little bit of how to get people looking at her site. it's mostly about cool things and accouterments one can pick up. you know, for the hipsters.
but how to get e-attention? serve up some ideas, people. what have you seen? what works? what gets your attention. and don't say tits. i already suggested that.
Because I Was Too Lazy To Post This Before
i've been lazy about posting. i am sitting in eben cripplefinger's house, waiting for one of his compatriots to join us. then we'll have breakfast and make our way to our second mets game in two days. because we're cool like that.
last weekend in a nutshell: good times, saw kandle before she left town,
missed holiday at the mermaid parade saturday. jill c tells me she had a microphone. her last mermaid before she goes to the upper left coast for liberalism, coffee, a master's degree, and her boy.
also saw the new pronographers/ stars in prospect park which was a great show. sat there with descha and friends of the morein-sense duo, matt, emma, and the infamous ari.
went to a lame karaoke place and met a quartet of ladies who remind me why half of the old wuniversity is lame. it was orna's bday and j-cappy was there with her friend alan, a reminder of why not to be straight before the next day's pride parade.
jetted out of that place with a kid named peter. we went to a rooftop, talked smack, invaded another rooftop party.
i went into the city and said hey to malfait.
went home. didn't sleep much. was in a haze on sunday.
i've been lazy about posting. i am sitting in eben cripplefinger's house, waiting for one of his compatriots to join us. then we'll have breakfast and make our way to our second mets game in two days. because we're cool like that.
last weekend in a nutshell: good times, saw kandle before she left town,
missed holiday at the mermaid parade saturday. jill c tells me she had a microphone. her last mermaid before she goes to the upper left coast for liberalism, coffee, a master's degree, and her boy.
also saw the new pronographers/ stars in prospect park which was a great show. sat there with descha and friends of the morein-sense duo, matt, emma, and the infamous ari.
went to a lame karaoke place and met a quartet of ladies who remind me why half of the old wuniversity is lame. it was orna's bday and j-cappy was there with her friend alan, a reminder of why not to be straight before the next day's pride parade.
jetted out of that place with a kid named peter. we went to a rooftop, talked smack, invaded another rooftop party.
i went into the city and said hey to malfait.
went home. didn't sleep much. was in a haze on sunday.
Friday, June 24, 2005
Thursday, June 23, 2005
What The Hell? 6.23.05
At Eben Cripplefinger's, watching the NY Mets hold on by their fingernails to a 4-3 lead over the Philadelphia Sillies.
Just read:
The Supreme Court today backed the right of local governments to snatch lands/ property on the behalf of private developers, if the development promotes economic development.
The dissenter's view, from Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and taken from the NY Times:
"The specter of condemnation hangs over all property. Nothing is to prevent the state from replacing any Motel 6 with a Ritz-Carlton, any home with a shopping mall, or any farm with a factory."
"Any property may now be taken for the benefit of another private property, but the fallout from this decision will not be random. The beneficiaries are likely to be those citizens with disproportionate influence and power in the political process, including large corporations and development firms.
"As for the victims," Justice O'Connor went on, "the government now has license to transfer property from those with fewer resources to those with more. The Founders cannot have intended this perverse result."
Supporting the dissnter's view: Scalia, Thomas, and Rehnquist.
At Eben Cripplefinger's, watching the NY Mets hold on by their fingernails to a 4-3 lead over the Philadelphia Sillies.
Just read:
The Supreme Court today backed the right of local governments to snatch lands/ property on the behalf of private developers, if the development promotes economic development.
The dissenter's view, from Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and taken from the NY Times:
"The specter of condemnation hangs over all property. Nothing is to prevent the state from replacing any Motel 6 with a Ritz-Carlton, any home with a shopping mall, or any farm with a factory."
"Any property may now be taken for the benefit of another private property, but the fallout from this decision will not be random. The beneficiaries are likely to be those citizens with disproportionate influence and power in the political process, including large corporations and development firms.
"As for the victims," Justice O'Connor went on, "the government now has license to transfer property from those with fewer resources to those with more. The Founders cannot have intended this perverse result."
Supporting the dissnter's view: Scalia, Thomas, and Rehnquist.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
kebop 6.22.05
yesterday was the longest day of the year. so, drinking ensued. funny how a lot of people have tuesday evening plans. but i had some company- gully/ nicky brooklyn, her friend cat, and friend douglas, mjunior, haylz, starla, marea, pixel and jamie, eben cripplefinger and his nurse nascar anna, rini, and victor who left early. all chillin in the back of DBA until we had to fill our stomachs.
today i was eben cripplefinger's hands for a VERY long trip to a doctor's office, where no one knew what mr cripplefinger had to do. good times.
cobble hill is much the same, but more park-slope-yuppie than before.
the mermaid parade is this saturday. it's holiday's last mermaid parde. who wants to come with me?
yesterday was the longest day of the year. so, drinking ensued. funny how a lot of people have tuesday evening plans. but i had some company- gully/ nicky brooklyn, her friend cat, and friend douglas, mjunior, haylz, starla, marea, pixel and jamie, eben cripplefinger and his nurse nascar anna, rini, and victor who left early. all chillin in the back of DBA until we had to fill our stomachs.
today i was eben cripplefinger's hands for a VERY long trip to a doctor's office, where no one knew what mr cripplefinger had to do. good times.
cobble hill is much the same, but more park-slope-yuppie than before.
the mermaid parade is this saturday. it's holiday's last mermaid parde. who wants to come with me?
Monday, June 20, 2005
Southpaw Plus 6.20.05
Saturday was a camp meeting and finally a meeting of 3/4 of the secret helicopter society - myself, Niffer, and Rini. Niffer's building has a backyard and we sat on deck hairs, drinking wine and enjoying one of the last cool nights we would have, catching up.
We also went dancing at Southpaw and those two left me with Ali Pack, Rizzle, and friends. Cesar came, and Gully didn't go inside. Cesar agrees, Gully, you is a punk. Here are some pictures of Ali Pack and her people. Despite Ali Pack's assertion, I was not hard on the mack.
p.s. it's almost the first day of summer. we're all going out. on the 21st. the longest day of the year. the opening of summer. give me suggestions, there will be an email later.
Saturday was a camp meeting and finally a meeting of 3/4 of the secret helicopter society - myself, Niffer, and Rini. Niffer's building has a backyard and we sat on deck hairs, drinking wine and enjoying one of the last cool nights we would have, catching up.
We also went dancing at Southpaw and those two left me with Ali Pack, Rizzle, and friends. Cesar came, and Gully didn't go inside. Cesar agrees, Gully, you is a punk. Here are some pictures of Ali Pack and her people. Despite Ali Pack's assertion, I was not hard on the mack.
p.s. it's almost the first day of summer. we're all going out. on the 21st. the longest day of the year. the opening of summer. give me suggestions, there will be an email later.
Friday, June 17, 2005
Airborne/ Fracture 6.17.05
A couple of days ago, Eben took a header on the Williamsburg Bridge, avoiding some dumbass who didn't understand "don't swerve" and "don't collide." As such, one hand is fractured and the other has a badly broken middle finger.
I would tell you all to call him with sympathies, thinking he'll not be able to use his middle finger. Eben would say "for design work" but I know his middle finger is used to express his "feelings." He informed me that he will have a large splint, and as such, he can express those feelings louder than before.
Echh, wish him well. But I am not offering to go over and wash his back.
A couple of days ago, Eben took a header on the Williamsburg Bridge, avoiding some dumbass who didn't understand "don't swerve" and "don't collide." As such, one hand is fractured and the other has a badly broken middle finger.
I would tell you all to call him with sympathies, thinking he'll not be able to use his middle finger. Eben would say "for design work" but I know his middle finger is used to express his "feelings." He informed me that he will have a large splint, and as such, he can express those feelings louder than before.
Echh, wish him well. But I am not offering to go over and wash his back.
Thursday, June 16, 2005
New Blog!
Thanks to the efforts of neverecho and mjr we have a sports blog, at sixstarcamp.blogspot.com. check it out. add it to your links. make suggestions.
Thanks to the efforts of neverecho and mjr we have a sports blog, at sixstarcamp.blogspot.com. check it out. add it to your links. make suggestions.
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
MSN Advice Minute
Neverecho likes to poke at MSN's advice section. Here's one about a fella dating a woman who doesn't like to kiss. She considers it a violation of her personal space. I dated a woman who didn't like to kiss. After a while, I just assumed she was a hooker and moved on.
Neverecho likes to poke at MSN's advice section. Here's one about a fella dating a woman who doesn't like to kiss. She considers it a violation of her personal space. I dated a woman who didn't like to kiss. After a while, I just assumed she was a hooker and moved on.
Returns 6.15.05
finally some weather that doesn't burn to the touch; and just in time for the return of my dear friend rini from the left coast (driving with sister gabi). i'm excited not only to have my friend back but to also get back the person who is my positive inspiration, the person for whom "can't" is mostly a joke.
expect events. like going to this saturday's Rub @ Southpaw.
last night i watched nbc's baby hit me one more time. the concept: washed up bands from the 80's and early 90's return to play half of their one hit and then play some of modern hits by ryan cabrera and los lonely boys and other acts i have not actually heard. and with the exception of arrested development, who still sounded as good as ever, the show was an embarrassing cavalcade of beer guts and thinning hair and tiffany's exposed rack. vote for me! i have boobies! i think you're alone now, tiff.
finally some weather that doesn't burn to the touch; and just in time for the return of my dear friend rini from the left coast (driving with sister gabi). i'm excited not only to have my friend back but to also get back the person who is my positive inspiration, the person for whom "can't" is mostly a joke.
expect events. like going to this saturday's Rub @ Southpaw.
last night i watched nbc's baby hit me one more time. the concept: washed up bands from the 80's and early 90's return to play half of their one hit and then play some of modern hits by ryan cabrera and los lonely boys and other acts i have not actually heard. and with the exception of arrested development, who still sounded as good as ever, the show was an embarrassing cavalcade of beer guts and thinning hair and tiffany's exposed rack. vote for me! i have boobies! i think you're alone now, tiff.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Place 6.14.05
after last wednesday i spent a few days trying to clean up my cough, get my voice back. friday was an important day, after all-- diana was holding a fundraiser for our camp kids, and i figured it's always good to have a person on hand who has been with the camp for a few years, in case people ask about it.
there was gargling and throat drops and sleep-inducing pills and hot nights wondering if i would ever be the same. but in this time, i thought back to the diplo show and something the rice-a-homie said which always rings true for the two of us. we're often in places where we feel uncomfortable, places where we can't get into the flow. spots that are too indie rock or too serious or too tooly. and this was a week of slipping in between the fences, re-finding where the pico fits. here's the tale.
friday comes around and i still rasp my words, clear my throat-- but i can be understood. in fact, i sounded kind of badass, a little method man- sounding. if gully wasn't right about the voice being "so over" then i could have given some ladies a late evening aural thrill.
i made it to the fundraiser early - it was held at a bar in upper midtown, and i was the first person on hand. good thing too, because a couple of people came before diana. one of them was a dumpy young lady who will be studying in a former soviet republic on a fulbright scholarship, and she is the crux of this post.
the whole evening i found myself surrounded by women and while that sounds great, it is hard to "pierce the veil" (more philopimpical wisdom from gully) when you are one of three guys. that is fine; i am not in a big "meet the trim" phase right now. more concerned with earning money and the camp and the future and becoming more positive.
the show and tell was good, the event raised money, and i got into many conversations about what people did. they all were high minded, public servants and non-profiteers, busy following their policy hearts into education and into going overseas and helping out poor countries--
and after a while i was like "enough already."
they talked almost like they're showing off. and in a sense they are; proving to me and everyone else that while they are not making money they are doing even better things, exclusive things. it's a conversational velvet rope. and like lana-p's friend-- and even some of our friends on a bad day-- the tendency to talk about the ills of the world serves not only to illuminate their audience but to prove how much they know, how far they have delved into their program area, how serious they are.
differences of style happens all the time. it's okay, it's interesting, it's illuminating. but ever so often, you realize you are not in your place, with people of a similar mindset. i'd rather do public service and not talk about it; i'd rather have more conversations about entertainment or about the person i am talking to, what makes them tick, what makes them happy. then again, their policy area is sometimes what makes a person tick.
perhaps i should be patient with people. but i'd rather be around folks who understand your sense of humor, who tell you about their work not as a flag but as a point of conversation/ interest.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
post-script.
after the fundraiser - i left after talking to margaret from the high school - i saw victor downtown, two sheets to the wind and having a piss of a time with his marvel comics friends. i was easily in step there, people i knew, and music i liked.
saturday i went to the north meadow to lana-p and her birthdaying friend jules. after dropping more coin than i remember on picnic supplies gully and i ended up in central and everyone was hella good people. the only problem was that after playing ultimate frisbee for the first time, i sweat right through a shirt--
and the rains came.
gully and i ran errands downtown- i picked up my camera i had left at the fundraiser thanks to diana. gully got his hair cut and looked for dijah's shoe store.
then to niffer's backyard; her roommate's brother was having a going-away party that was filled with fraternity boys and good eats.
then to some party on prospect with jill c/ ern/ holiday/ lisa/ garth n' elise. good to talk to ern, in town for one night only and then back to alabama.
after last wednesday i spent a few days trying to clean up my cough, get my voice back. friday was an important day, after all-- diana was holding a fundraiser for our camp kids, and i figured it's always good to have a person on hand who has been with the camp for a few years, in case people ask about it.
there was gargling and throat drops and sleep-inducing pills and hot nights wondering if i would ever be the same. but in this time, i thought back to the diplo show and something the rice-a-homie said which always rings true for the two of us. we're often in places where we feel uncomfortable, places where we can't get into the flow. spots that are too indie rock or too serious or too tooly. and this was a week of slipping in between the fences, re-finding where the pico fits. here's the tale.
friday comes around and i still rasp my words, clear my throat-- but i can be understood. in fact, i sounded kind of badass, a little method man- sounding. if gully wasn't right about the voice being "so over" then i could have given some ladies a late evening aural thrill.
i made it to the fundraiser early - it was held at a bar in upper midtown, and i was the first person on hand. good thing too, because a couple of people came before diana. one of them was a dumpy young lady who will be studying in a former soviet republic on a fulbright scholarship, and she is the crux of this post.
the whole evening i found myself surrounded by women and while that sounds great, it is hard to "pierce the veil" (more philopimpical wisdom from gully) when you are one of three guys. that is fine; i am not in a big "meet the trim" phase right now. more concerned with earning money and the camp and the future and becoming more positive.
the show and tell was good, the event raised money, and i got into many conversations about what people did. they all were high minded, public servants and non-profiteers, busy following their policy hearts into education and into going overseas and helping out poor countries--
and after a while i was like "enough already."
they talked almost like they're showing off. and in a sense they are; proving to me and everyone else that while they are not making money they are doing even better things, exclusive things. it's a conversational velvet rope. and like lana-p's friend-- and even some of our friends on a bad day-- the tendency to talk about the ills of the world serves not only to illuminate their audience but to prove how much they know, how far they have delved into their program area, how serious they are.
differences of style happens all the time. it's okay, it's interesting, it's illuminating. but ever so often, you realize you are not in your place, with people of a similar mindset. i'd rather do public service and not talk about it; i'd rather have more conversations about entertainment or about the person i am talking to, what makes them tick, what makes them happy. then again, their policy area is sometimes what makes a person tick.
perhaps i should be patient with people. but i'd rather be around folks who understand your sense of humor, who tell you about their work not as a flag but as a point of conversation/ interest.
post-script.
after the fundraiser - i left after talking to margaret from the high school - i saw victor downtown, two sheets to the wind and having a piss of a time with his marvel comics friends. i was easily in step there, people i knew, and music i liked.
saturday i went to the north meadow to lana-p and her birthdaying friend jules. after dropping more coin than i remember on picnic supplies gully and i ended up in central and everyone was hella good people. the only problem was that after playing ultimate frisbee for the first time, i sweat right through a shirt--
and the rains came.
gully and i ran errands downtown- i picked up my camera i had left at the fundraiser thanks to diana. gully got his hair cut and looked for dijah's shoe store.
then to niffer's backyard; her roommate's brother was having a going-away party that was filled with fraternity boys and good eats.
then to some party on prospect with jill c/ ern/ holiday/ lisa/ garth n' elise. good to talk to ern, in town for one night only and then back to alabama.
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